Friday, August 13, 2010

Our next feature brought to us by the State Of Minnesota Legacy Program is a free concert by Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, Friday, August 13th at 7:00PM at the **First Lutheran Church in Pine River. This will be preceded by a free workshop at the Pine River Library at 2:00PM the same day. The concert will present two pieces: “Appalachian Spring” by Aaron Copeland and a new piece, “Quiet Landscape” by Minnesota composer Joseph Adams. Mr. Adams will be attending the workshop. Mr. Copeland will only be attending in spirit as he died December 2, 1990. Dr. Beverly Everett, the conductor will be giving the workshop.

This brings to mind a couple of questions. Why is classical music called “classical”? It can’t be because it doesn’t involve lyrics because opera is considered classical and it has words. And what of orchestras? How are they different from bands? Number of instruments? I don’t think so, since during the “Big Band Era” bands were really big. Let us check this out in Wikipedia.org and see what they have to say…

Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Westernliturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 9th century to present times. The central norms of this tradition became codified between 1550 and 1900, which is known as the common practice period.

Pop music (a term that originally derives from an abbreviation of "popular") is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented towards a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple love songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes. Pop music has absorbed influences from most other forms of popular music, but as a genre is particularly associated with the rock and roll and later rock style.

Well, that seems to sort explain that difference, so on with the “orchestra” versus “band”...

An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus. The orchestra grew by accretion throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but changed very little in composition during the course of the twentieth century.

A musical ensemble is a group of two or more musicians who perform instrumental or vocal music. In each musical style different norms have developed for the sizes and composition of different ensembles, and for the repertoire of songs or musical works that these ensembles perform.

This explanation isn’t quite as clear. I think perhaps the major difference between “orchestra” and “band” is that the one plays classical music while the other plays primarily pop music. Even this isn’t exact because I am relatively certain there are orchestral versions of, for example, Beatles music. Perhaps it hinges on orchestras playing an infinite variety of pieces while a band generally plays a particular repertoire???

Think about it and perhaps if you attend the workshop you could ask Mr. Adams or Dr. Everett. They might know.

**At the last minute the Concert had to be moved to the Mildred Bible Chapel, 4 Miles N of Pine River on HWY 371. Still @ 7 pm. If you do come to the First Lutheran church there will be a charter bus @ 6:45 to take anyone to Mildred.Questions please call the library at 587-4639.

Happy trails.Browser, the library cat.

Printed in the Pine River Journal August 12th 2010 without update about the concert location change.

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About Me

I enjoy meeting people. I moved into the Pine River Library in 2002 and have been there ever since. I love to sit with the kids at storytime and appreciate when someone opens the door for me. I only talk when I have something important to say. I will let you know when I've had enough attention! ;-) I enjoy meeting up with my friend Beau in the parking lot. I don't like it when he runs up to me out of nowhere. For a dog he's quite friendly.